Hey food lovers,
Here is the current ranking from San Francisco based Yelp Inc. on the top reviewed restaurants and top Latin American restaurants in the Cify of San Francisco today. Yelp is the top Web 2.0 user review and recommendation blogsite for top restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment, and services in the world. The criteria is based on the most number of reviews, not highest rated.
The highest "rated" restaurant is not an accurate means of assessing the quality of the food, ambiance, or service of the said restaurant. Anyone can open a restaurant and have their family members or employees rate their own restaurant 5/5 stars on restaurant rating blogsites.
But not on Yelp.
For example, a restaurant with 250 reviews and an average rating of 4/5 stars has much more clout than a restaurant with only 50 reviews and average rating of 4.5/5 stars on Yelp. You get what I mean?
Very few restaurants in San Francisco or anywhere else have 400+ number of reviews and an average rating of 4/5 stars by Yelp power users, "Yelpers". The Yelp filtering system will eliminate self promotion or the Yelpers themselves will "out" the restaurant if they suspect gross self rating & self positive review postings.
In the top 20 reviewed restaurants in San Francisco, only 3 are of Latin American food or cuisine - #16 is a Mexican takeout eatery called "Nick's Crispy Taco", #17 is Caribbean and Cuban tapas bar "Cha, Cha, Cha", and #20 is upscale Peruvian restaurant "Limon".
Now here is some very interesting stats and info regarding the top 20 Latin American restaurants in San Francisco. In the top spot is Peruvian upscale restaurant "Limon" with an amazing 695 reviews and an average rating of 4/5 stars!! They have held this spot for 4 years in a row on Yelp!!! Even after they closed for two months due to a major fire with the building's' upstairs tenant.
In the top five, 4 of them are of South American cuisine - 3 Peruvian, 1 Brazilian. In the top ten, 8 of them are of South American cuisine with 6 Peruvian restaurants and 2 Brazilian. And in the top twenty, 9 are Peruvian restaurants and 2 are Brazilian for a total of 11!
It is a very clear indication that South American cuisine, especially Peruvian has dethroned Mexican, Salvadorian, Central American, and Caribbean cuisine in the last 4 or 5 years at the high end of the market (upscale establishments) in San Francisco for Latin American cuisine.
The reason
Well, the reason why Peruvian Cuisine has been so successful in San Francisco and other major cities around the U.S. and overseas recently is that it is a complete departure to plain rice, beans, steak, and chip dishes that is the norm with Mexican, Central American, and other South American cuisines.
Peruvian Cuisine is much more varied, international, and cosmopolitan compare to all the other Latin American cuisines because it has major influences, styles, ingredients, and mixtures with Peruvian indigenous, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, French, English, Arabic, Moorish, and Africa cuisines.
Peruvian Cuisine is the first and only "Global Fusion" food in the world, everyone else is a "Johnny Come Lately". In Peru, they have been mixing and fusing food for 500 years + !!!
Now food lovers, this is just the beginning. When Peruvian celebrity chef Gaston opens his first U.S. restaurant in San Francisco - the flagship La Mar in early Fall 2008, all the other high-end SF restaurants will be put on notice.
La Mar will be the #1 upscale Latin America Restaurant in San Francisco and rest of the United States in no time!!!
Anyhow here are the top 20 reviewed restaurants in San Francisco (non-sponsored) on Yelp as of today, August 22, 2008:
1. Burma SuperStar
Category: Burmese
4 star rating
1235 reviews
309 Clement St
San Francisco, CA, 94118
(415) 387-2147
Okay, so I should probably give this place 4 stars because I do like it a fair amount, but I'm giving it 3 because I had an extremely mediocre dish last week: the fiery beef with tofu and green beans.…
3.5 star rating
1131 reviews
1 Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 861-8032
I knew I shouldn't have tried "fancy" Vietnamese food. They load up the vermicelli dishes with shredded vegetables and bean sprouts, turning it into more like a salad with a child's handful of…
4 star rating
1065 reviews
2534 Mission St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 648-7600
I brought my not-so foodie parents in and then played interpreter with some of the terms on the menu, all the while thinking, they may not like so many unknowns. Foreign Cinema nailed everything we…
4.5 star rating
1046 reviews
800 N Point St
San Francisco, CA, 94109
(415) 749-2060
My 100Th review and this restaurant truly deserves every bit of this recognition. The best experience I have ever had at a restaurant. Words cannot describe this restaurant, so I won't.
4 star rating
1030 reviews
560 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA, 94117
(415) 864-8643
I'm in Nopa right now.. That's how much I love this place!!!!!!! If you live in SF and have never been here... Something is wrong. If you don't live in SF, then this is a good reason to visit.
3 star rating
981 reviews
2522 Mission St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 550-9055
I went here for dinner over the weekend and I was pleasantly surprised! In the past I have only been there for drinks on the roof top. The food was really good, and the service was really good as…
4 star rating
889 reviews
1906 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94109
(415) 885-4605
Once again I went to House of Prime Rib and eat dinner again. As always I enjoy every moment I was there. Great customer service. I purposely dress like a little punk to walk in there but they still…
4.5 star rating
865 reviews
846 Divisadero St
San Francisco, CA, 94116
(415) 441-1118
I am from Chicago, and this is the closest you will get to the best Chicago Pizza. Their deep dish has the spirit needed to be compared to the best pizza on the planet. I am happy I found this place…
4 star rating
804 reviews
525 Laguna St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 252-9289
I've been trying to get in this place for over a year. I finally made it on a Tuesday night at 9:00. On my Birthday! I wasn't let down, not even a little. Great service, lots of beers and amazing…
4 star rating
805 reviews
995 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 642-3672
4 star rating
791 reviews
1031 Irving St
San Francisco, CA, 94122
(415) 242-0828
It's been quite some time since I was so impressed with takeout. Every dish I ate was fantastic. Here's what I had. chicken wings (of course) shrimp and leek dumplings black bean sauce noodles (I…
4 star rating
776 reviews
1240 9th Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94122
(415) 665-9912
Went back. Waited 15 mins. Sat upstairs. Wonderful service. Delectably zippy house salad with fennel. Perfectly done salmon on rich mashed potatoes. House red wine. Reasonable bill. I am in…
3.5 star rating
733 reviews
25 Mason St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 409-3276
At the time, Farmer Brown seemed like a godsend. However, this is likely because my tastebuds were herbally enhanced. The food was certainly tasty and reasonably priced, but unremarkable. I've…
3.5 star rating
729 reviews
149 2nd St
San Francisco, CA, 94105
(415) 278-9991
Osha Thai on 2nd produces consistently tasty Thai food with fast service with a nice ambience. Any time that I am in the area and hungry with friends I suggest Osha because I know that our appetites…
3.5 star rating
713 reviews
694 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 553-8584
YUMMY! We had a double date here to celebrate a friend's 24th. He was looking for "Comfort Food" so this was a pretty cool place to be. First off, the staff is extremely nice. I placed a…
4 star rating
708 reviews
1500 Broadway
San Francisco, CA, 94109
(415) 409-8226
wow is this place great or what??? If you want real tacos that actually taste good then come by nick's. yes it's crazy when it's taco $2 tuesdays! I'd say go via bus if it's a Tuesday. Fish tacos…
3.5 star rating
708 reviews
1801 Haight St
San Francisco, CA, 94117
(415) 386-7670
By the time my friends and I got here, I had already pounded several IPAs (aka tranquilizer beer). From a few blips of consciousness I can recollect sipping Cha Cha Cha's tasty Sangria and shouting…
4 star rating
693 reviews
860 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA, 94107
(415) 995-2061
Randy F and I stumbled out of the Metreon after watching The Dark Knight on Saturday 11pm (which btw the movie was AWESOME!), we decided the night was still young and we wanted some nightcap. We…
4 star rating
693 reviews
398 Hayes Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 551-1590
OMG! This place is fantastic. My friend and fellow yelper Carmen and I went for brunch since neither of us had ever dined here. We arrived around 11:30 or so and the place was packed which is…
4 star rating
695 reviews
524 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 252-0918
UMMmmmm.. Went here on MY birthday because soooommmeone suggested we go. Hated it. Hate Hate Hate Hate. The food was AWFUL and I was very very sick afterwards. Never before have I acquired the…
Yelp's 2008 top reviewed Latin American San Francisco Restaurants (non-sponsored) as of today, August 22, 2008. Peruvian Cuisine tops the list, again! With 9 restaurants in the top 20!!
4 star rating
695 reviews
524 Valencia St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 252-0918
UMMmmmm.. Went here on MY birthday because soooommmeone suggested we go. Hated it. Hate Hate Hate Hate. The food was AWFUL and I was very very sick afterwards. Never before have I acquired the…
4 star rating
680 reviews
1686 Market St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 552-8792
Vegetarians beware! Not only will you walk out of this place beyond full, you will be sweating meat till the next day. This place is great to try all types and cuts cuts of BBQ. Make sure not to…
4 star rating
496 reviews
2114 Fillmore Street
San Francisco, CA, 94115
(415) 447-2668
I haven't eaten here yet, but I watched the cooks for 30 minutes on Saturday night - they are pure magicians. Exec. sioux chef Hector Diaz and his right-hand man Tony hold it down like artists with…
4 star rating
316 reviews
1815 Market St
San Francisco, CA, 94103
(415) 552-4451
It's a true testament to Destino that I tried not only a wide variety of food during dinner there recently, but some *raw* food to boot. I'm not a big raw fish fan, but their ceviche a la peruana…
4 star rating
301 reviews
214 Townsend St
San Francisco, CA, 94107
(415) 957-1129
You can easily walk by Primo Patio Cafe without ever realizing the Caribbean Islands are in SOMA! I was a little skeptical of what this place might offer (the Yelp sticker on the window gave some…
3 star rating
245 reviews
495 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 929-2300
The hotel, bar area and restaurant are very nice. The service is good, and the food is "good", but not memorable. My cocktail at the bar was $13.00 which is excessive, but of course, expected for the…
3.5 star rating
235 reviews
3945 24th St
San Francisco, CA, 94114
(415) 695-0549
I had a steak sandwich with fries and I really liked it!! My meal was flavorful and the meat was not chewy and tough. The service was great, but we also went for lunch and there was really no one…
4 star rating
230 reviews
24 West Portal Avenue
San Francisco, CA, 94127
(415) 759-8087
This is one of my favorite restaurants for a nice steak. I prefer this West Portal location over the Fillmore one as it has a more casual welcoming feel. The rack of lamb and steak are go to dishes,…
4 star rating
186 reviews
3226 Mission St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 642-4897
Yes, I've been to Limon and Fresca and have liked my experiences there. Sure, their ambiance is fancy but their food, though excellent, is more Peruvian-inspired (translates into - less authentic).…
3.5 star rating
156 reviews
41 Franklin St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 626-8727
One of MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN SAN FRANCISCO!! This is truly a hidden gem of San Francisco. What I love about a walking city like San Francisco, is that on a random evening you walk into an…
3.5 star rating
114 reviews
937 Harrison St
San Francisco, CA, 94107
(415) 278-0480
Pricey, but certainly a good restaurant in a dodgy neighborhood. The coconut flan was undoubtedly the highlight of the meal. We kept on saying "That's a damn good flan!"
4 star rating
112 reviews
3230 Mission St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 282-2572
Came here after an bar with friends. Their chips and salsa are on the house.Their salsa was pretty spicy. I ordered their Mexican Quesduillas..It was so delicious. Need to come here again. They close…
4 star rating
108 reviews
4042 24th St
San Francisco, CA, 94114
(415) 826-3942
This place is the bomb - I took off a star because I have ONCE been served a questionable plate. It was late and the kitchen was closing so I think they substituted one of the normal items on the…
4 star rating
98 reviews
3091 16th Street
San Francisco, CA, 94103
(415) 431-4232
The super tacos are REALLY big here. Don't order 3. Even if you've been drinking for 4 hours and haven't eaten in 8 hours. They are good but don't order 3. In order of the best meats, I'd pick…
3 star rating
99 reviews
1760 Polk St
San Francisco, CA, 94109
(415) 359-1212
I was just sitting here at my desk thinking about what I want for lunch. Somehow the thought of La Parilla Grill (yes, the name is a tad redundant) came to mind. It's been a month or so since I was…
4 star rating
99 reviews
401 Gough St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
(415) 552-8485
I realized as I was trying to locate this place for lunch that I had actually been here before for dinner. Unfortunately I don't remember much about the dinner as I was well on my way to a state…
4 star rating
98 reviews
3349 18th St
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 648-9199
I had a big breakfast of papusas and beans and rice yesterday on the recommendation of a good friend. Are papusas about to blow up and become the next taco or crepe? I think papusas could surpass…
3.5 star rating
97 reviews
830 Cortland Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94199
(415) 282-8812
I've had Peruvian food at Fresca and Limon... both of which are great. But Piqueo's was just different. The menu offers a wide selection of tapas that combine simple basics with a variety of…
4 star rating
93 reviews
3115 22nd Street
San Francisco, CA, 94110
(415) 821-6660
The pupusas are utterly delicious here. I opted for the chicken mole as an entree which was good but my girlfriend's chile verde was the clear winner. Next time we go back certainly going to try…
4.5 star rating
87 reviews
555 Columbus Ave
San Francisco, CA, 94133
(415) 362-7727
one of the moistest (usually) chickens you will be eating in the bay, or certainly in sf, so for that it gets a solid 5. for taste, i would say it gets a 3. don't get me wrong, it's very moist, and…
PS. I am absolutely convince that Peruvian Cuisine will conquer the U.S. and the rest of the world within 20 - 25 years, or sooner.......
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